I paused to think deeply at the words of someone dear spoke to me. Part of it quoted a psalm by King David, “It’s really fascinating to me how so many things relating to the Old Testament [Re: the sacrifices and various traditions] all pointed to Jesus Christ. [O]ur sacrifices today are a broken spirit and a contrite heart…”
King David expressed that last line in a psalm, circa the first millennium BC. All Believers of the One God and His unchangeable WORD, have those ‘daily sacrifices’: a broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart. We, as David reflected upon our sins (as outlined in God’s Word); and we have repented (turned to follow God’s Ways). David did likewise, and then expressed his appreciation for the grace God gave to him, “I will open my mouth and declare Your praise.”
King David also expressed in the psalm words that offer a spiritual context to the literal, long-held traditions of his people. However, his words had many reflect on the spiritual aspect of sacrifices—as did my dear friend, “You [God] do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16-17).
David pointed us to the deeper spiritual sacrifices; yet, his son Solomon constructed the first Temple to continue literal sacrifices in the House of the LORD. The young King Solomon asked God for one thing: Wisdom—not the kind the world brings. My prior blogs have outlined—from Solomon’s own Proverbs—the meaning of ‘the Wisdom’ given by God to a Believer (Prov 8; etc).
We are to seek Wisdom wholeheartedly, which gains us God’s Truth. Wisdom points us to Messiah; who is the ‘Faithful and True’ (Rev 19:11). Likewise, truth and wisdom appear in that same psalm of King David. He sang, “You desire truth…You teach me wisdom in the inmost place…Create in me a clean heart O God…”
David states a particular purpose for having the wisdom and truth he desired: ‘Then I will teach transgressors Your Ways, and sinners will turn back to You” (Ps. 51:6-13). Truth and Wisdom enables (and obligates) wise teachers to teach transgressors God’s Right Way.
Prophets tell Prophecies, and parables—both contain elements of the literal alongside a parallel application for us, which is spiritual. It is apparent that David’s Psalm about daily sacrifices has a spiritual application, “…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16-17). Could that psalm also have an application to the End Time prophecies of Daniel?
Indeed, regarding the last days, Daniel received several, same themed, visions about daily sacrifices. Specifically, Daniel saw an Evil One, who comes in the End to desecrate the temple fortress; and abolishe the daily sacrifices (Dan. 11:31; 9:27; 8:12; 12:11). King David wrote, “You do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16-17).
Is David’s psalm the key to the spiritual application that interprets parts of Daniel’s prophecies of the End Times?
David wrote, “You teach me wisdom in the inmost place…Create in me a clean heart O God…” Having a clean heart and wisdom, allows the Wise to live righteously; and to warn and encourage as the End Days approach, “Then I will teach transgressors Your Ways, and sinners will turn back to You” (Ps. 51:6-13). Daniel writes, “Those who are Wise will teach many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall they receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will will JOIN* them” (Dan 11:31).
Rebellion (wide-spread sin) is a HUGE sign that we are in the Last Days. We see those—who simply acted sincere and called themselves wise—blaspheme God’s Truth found in His Word. They spout everything from evolution, abortion rights, same-sex marriage and relationship rights, etc, etc. These topics quite literally oppose what God said in His undeniable Word—the gauge for Truth. Daniel writes, “Because of the rebellion…Truth was thrown to the ground” (Dan 8:12).
Over history, God sent many prophets with his Word to enlighten, encourage, and warn people. This is Truth: the Word of God contains His standard for right living, the Truth of Messiah sent to cleans us, and the signs of the End. “You [God] do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16-17).
Today, God’s Word go largely ignored by the Rebelling world; yet, David tells us, God’s truth and wisdom allows us, and obligates us, to “teach transgressors Your Ways, and sinners will turn back to You” (Ps. 51:6-13). We are to join David in having these sacrifices of our heart daily. Yeshua (Jesus) said, “To be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Regarding the End, God first sent the Prophets, to forewarn us; now BELIEVERS must watch for the forewarning signs and tell others. Broken hearts about the world in Rebellion must not keep us from teaching these things to them, out of love for humanity. If they choose to scoff, they do so at their own peril, “Look you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I AM going to do something in our day that you would never believe, even if someone told you” (Hab. 1:1-5; Acts 13:41).
The world is filled with lawlessness and the blaspheming of God’s Word—this is Rebellion, such as what appeared in the time of Noah before the Great Flood. People have challenged God’s Word, the Truth with statements such as: “God’s Laws are outdated” or “His Laws are up for interpretation”. They stand in Rebellion to God. They stand on frail ground, rather than on the firm Rock of God’s Word.
God’s Law has been the black and white standard for what is “acceptable, godly, right living” since time began. Such rebellion is not only common place, under the guise of ‘political correctness’, but the world finds this the acceptable, preferential practice—often made increasingly legal. Yet, the scoffing at God’s Word continues to worsen.
Scoffers fail to see that their scoffing changes not the reality of Truth, or the prophecies of the End Time signs—and its eventual surety. Rather, through the Rebellion and their scoffing, it confirms the prophecies specifically about them! “In the LAST DAYS* will come scoffers, following their own evil desires saying, ‘Where is the coming He promised?’”(2 Peter 3:3). *Note here, that prophecy assures us we are IN the Last Days!
Likewise, the afore mentioned rebellion is another HUGE sign of the End Times. In fact, the rebellion confirms our placement WITHIN the End Times—as well as our PROXIMITY to the Man behind the rebellion; and the coming of the Lord and our being gathered to Him. “Don’t let anyone deceive you in anyway…THAT Day will not occur unless the rebellion first takes place, and the Man of Lawlessness is revealed” (2 Thess 2:3).
While rebellion (sin) is historic, it has increased dramatically in the past few decades. Such rebellion against God once caused Him to wipe clean the world (all but eight righteous souls). The final destruction of the evil in the world will come by Fire. God decided long ago to “assemble all nations, to gather all kingdoms and to pour out My wrath…the whole army will be consumed by fire of my jealous anger” (Zephaniah 3:8; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 16-19). God will rid the world of Evil, forever.
Right now, we might be witnesses to the Rebellion of the End which must take place before Messiah’s coming to rid all evil. Be aware, then, “Because of the rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to (the Evil One)…and truth was thrown to the ground” (Dan 8:12). The host* typically refers to angels; in this case, representing the people who were deceived.
“The coming of the Lawless One…revealed at the proper time…is in accordance with Satan…counterfeit miracles…every sort of evil…they perish because they refuse to love Truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the Truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thess 2:6-12). The historic spirit of lawlessness (rebellion/sin) increased until the proper time, when God will send a powerful delusion—in the form of the Man of Lawlessness. Islam calls this one the Djjal, the anti-Christ; anti-Messiah.
Adherent of untruth choose to embrace the delusion of the Man of Sin, who will cast down the host of the saints*; and trample truth underfoot. “Because they loved wickedness rather than truth…because of the rebellion, the host of the saints; and the daily sacrifice was given over [to the deceiving Man of Lawlessness; the Evil One]…He prospered in all it did and truth was thrown to the ground…”; “[This man]’s throne and power; comes from [Satan] the Dragon” (Dan 8:9-12; Rev 13). Since his power and throne comes from The Father of all Lies: Satan; it is little wonder that Satan’s servant adheres to lies and destroys Truth.
The secret power of lawlessness was “already at work” in the time of St. Paul, circa 46-56 AD “…but the ONE* who now holds it back will continue to do so, till he* is taken out of the way” (2 Thess 2:7). The secret power of lawlessness, has been the world entity (as a Beast), blaspheming, deceiving and gathering more adherents throughout history. Then will come the appointed time when the Beast is revealed as the Man of Lawlessness (Rev 13). His revealing will come at the time the One* holding him back (in the End) departs—which brings to mind Ezekiel’s prophecies.
“The Day is here; the rod has budded; arrogance has blossomed…Violence has grown into a rod to punish wickedness…blow the trumpet; yet, not one of them goes into battle…I will hand it over as plunder to foreigners and a loot to the wicked of the earth…because of their sin…they will desecrate my treasured place; robbers will enter it and desecrate it…calamity upon calamity…famine and plague…[some] escape to the hills…and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw the idol of jealousy…Then LORD said, ‘Go throughout the city and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over the detestable things that are done [in the Temple]…Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple…and stopped at the east gate to the entrance of the Lord’s house.” (Ez 7:10-26; 8:3-5; 9:3-6; 10:18-19).
Ezekiel writes, “The Lord said to me, ‘This gate is to remain shut…because the God of Israel has entered through it. The PRINCE* himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway (of the Sanctuary) to eat in the presence of the Lord” (Ezekiel 44:2-3). When the anti-Christ figure of the End comes at the appointed time, he sets himself up to be as great as the Prince; and removes the daily sacrifice (Dan 8:11). The fake prince appears within some Dead Sea scrolls, as ‘the Man of the Lie’, who literally stands in direct opposition to Messiah, the Truth; the True Prince.
Now, those and other prophecies point to literal sacrifices; and to be proper, one must have a literal temple. The historic place was where Solomon’s and Ezra’s-enhanced by Herod stood—on Temple Mount in Jerusalem—albeit, perhaps the one in the End is ‘a mobile tabernacle’. This set-up was used in the wilderness during the exodus days. The mobile tabernacle housed the ark and was the place of sacrifices; it moved with them from place to place. Due to the political turmoil that Jerusalem faces, a mobile set-up might be seen as a very practical compromise (less intrusive on ’al-AQSA).
In any case, the literal sacrifices to God will end; and so too might the spiritual sacrifices—shown daily in a broken spirit; and a broken and contrite heart (Ps 51:17). These cease due to the Rebellion, and the coming Lawless One—both of which overtakes a very large majority of people in world. Rebellion against God’s Law eventually brings grave consequences.
God’s justifiable wrath is poured out on the Great Day of the Lord. Davis and other prophets spoke of such ‘righteous indignation’ (Ps 78:49; 90:7; 119:53; Nahum 1:6). Likewise, Yeshua (Jesus) cleared the money changers from the Temple with the righteous indignation towards the misuse of the House of the LORD. He was deeply grieved at what he saw. And in the End, God’s wrath culminates on the Great Day of the Lord, when Messiah comes with all his armies of angels.
Those in rebellion should have “…godly sorrow [which] brings repentance…see what [it] has produced in you: …what indignation, alarm, longing, and concern” (2 Cor 7:8,11). It was those people who grieved over the abominations, whom God marked as his own (Eze 9:3-4; Rev 7:3). Meanwhile, the rebellious took the mark of the Beast and worshipped his image, which the False prophet set up (Rev. 13:13-17). The Evil took control of the temple. “Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1Cor 6:19). “[He] set up the abomination…and on the WING of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” (Dan 9:26-27; Dan 11).
“Let no one deceive you…for the day [of the LORD] will not come until the rebellion occurs and the Man of Lawlessness is revealed…through the workings of Satan…[The man] deceives those who are perishing through many signs and wonders and in every sort of evil. They perish because they refused to love the Truth” (2 Thess 2:1,3,9-10).
Yet, even “some of the Wise in those days will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end” (Dan 11:35). If the Wing of the Temple also includes the Wise who stumbled, they apparently came to believe some of the lies of the world through that great delusion. Perhaps they stumbled because they had not (yet) received God’s Holy Spirit; thus they did not have a clean heart to start anew—nor the promised Power to overcome—until refined.
Likewise, maybe they stumbled as the result of the End Time’s suffering: famines, plagues, natural disasters; high inflation, lack of funds, war, false imprisonment and violence (Rev 6; Luke 21; Mark 13; Matt 24). Did the Wise ones stumble because they lost faith, seeped in a spirit of bitterness (wormwood)? ”The great star ‘Wormwood’ fell “and a third of the rivers turned bitter” (Rev 8:10-11). Maybe they stumbled because they had false teachers leading them with ’softer, kinder’ God; which did not even include the Truth of righteous, justifiable indignation?
The prophet Amos described ‘a famine for hearing the Words of the Lord’. (8:11). Many people never knew Truth. Therefore, the spirit of lawlessness, grew into a strong delusion; and even deceived some of the Wise (Dan. 11:35; 8:12). Yet, the sincere who were led astray and fell away, will be refined, spotless. They too will find Wisdom, and Truth and come to repentance, turning back to God and His Word.
David sang in that psalm, “I have sinned and done wrong…cast me not from Your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me…grant me a willing spirit…You [God] do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:4,11,16-17). “I urge you, brothers…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12).
Meanwhile, those who merely claimed to be Wise may never believed the unalterable Truth of the Word of God; took the mark of the Beast, and continued in their false teachings, and perpetrated untruth until their own destruction. Without the gauge of God’s Word, they did not know truth from lies—and so, could not even tell that a False Prophet stood among them; they believed the world’s deception and worshipped the Beast (Rev 13).
The apostle Paul encouraged people to know the Word; and the Truth of the gospel. That was the only gauge for the true gospel, “Even if ‘an angel’ teaches a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned” (Gal 1:8). If you have a teacher who says, “God’s Commands are outdated and must change with the times”—or “they are up for individual interpretation; there are ’grey’ areas”—then, know that one is a deceiver; a false shepherd; and a liar.
Lawlessness will grow; and false prophets will come, “[Until] the appointed time…[The Man of Lawlessness] vents his fury against the holy covenant…He will show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. His forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice…” (Dan 11). “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:17).
On ‘the Wing of the Temple’… “[he] set up the abomination…[north of the altar]…the idol which causes jealousy and righteous indignation…the abomination which brings desolation” (Dan 9:26-27; Ezekiel 8:3-5; Dan 11). Daniel saw, in one vision, the Evil One depicted as a little horn, “As I watched this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Day came and pronounced judgement in favor of the saints” (Dan 7: 21-22).
Daniel asked, “‘How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?’ The man clothed in linen [who told me these things] lifted his arms towards heaven…‘It will be for a time, times and half a time. WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE is finally broken all these things will be completed’” (Dan. 11:45-12:1-7).
What finally breaks the power of the holy people?
We are safe to assume that little by little, during the time of the End, that some the power of the holy people is broken when some of the Wise stumbled, to be refined. They were deceived into advocating for societal ‘ill-norms’—political correctness, the laws of men; sinful laws have spread world-wide.
“Do not conform to the world…then you will be able to test and approve what God’s Will is” (Rom 12:2). While our hearts are broken, we must not conform, or be discouraged, during the time the Man of Lawlessness blasphemes and “exercised authority over the world for 42 months…He was given power to make war with the saints and overcome them” (Dan 11:31-32; Rev 13:5-7).
Indeed, his power came from Satan himself, “the Dragon went after “Zion and her male child]”; and when he failed at that, he went off “to make war with the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)—knowing his time is short” (Rev 12:17).
More of the Holy People will be broken when they are pursued, burned, captured, plundered, or fall by the sword of the Beast; Satan’s anti-Christ (Rev 13:7; Dan 11:33). Then, he enters Jerusalem, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies you will know that its desolation is near. Let those in Judea flee to the mountains. For this is a time of punishment—in fulfillment of all that has been written” (Luke 21:21-22).
“I appointed watchmen over them and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the trumpet!’ But you [the rebellious] said, ‘We will not listen’” (Jer. 6:17). We know the rebellion and falsehood in the world likely contributed to some of the breaking of the power of the holy people, especially when Truth was thrown to the ground. “As I watched [he] was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Day came and pronounced judgement in favor of the saints” (Dan 7: 21-22).
“On the WING of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” (Dan 9:26-27; Dan 11). “Do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1Cor 6:19). “[The Man of Sin’s] forces desecrate the temple fortress and he will abolish the daily sacrifice; and set up the abomination” (Dan 11). “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:17).
[The Evil one] who desecrates the temple fortress and abolishes the daily sacrifice…will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the holy mountain. Yet, he will come to an end, and no one will help him. At that time, Michael, the great prince who guards your people, will arise. Some Believers, who are still alive in the End—those who had not take the mark of the Beast—will be delivered out from the world’s evil.
Jesus told his followers the signs of Messiah’s Coming would increase like birth pains towards delivery. As Witnesses we should learn, and then tell the world, even scoffers, what they are—that is compassion: “…[the people] choose a watchman, and when he sees the sword coming against the land he blows the trumpet to warn. If [someone] hears and does not pay attention, the sword comes and takes his life” (Eze 33:5-6).
While the lawlessness, the fracturing of faith through suffering, the deceitfulness of false prophets, and the sword contribute to breaking the power of the holy people, my logic says something major must happen to “finally break the Power of the Holy People” (Dan 8:12; 7:21-22).
“There will be a time of great distress such as not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone found written in the Book—will be delivered” (Dan 12:1). Such delivery seems to be what is commonly called the ‘rapture’; a catching-up of God’s people.
“And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matt 24:31). “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call [which we hear on earth]. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1Cor 15:52).
“Concerning the catching-up” (Greek is as ‘gathered in a net’); or “our being gathered to Him…” (2Thess 2:1). “Make two trumpets…and use them for calling the community together…” (Num 10:2). “[W]ith a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God; the dead [believing] in Messiah will rise first” (1Thess 4:16).
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air*” (1Thess 4:17; Jude 14). [*note: He is in the clouds to meet them; and is not descending for the Second Coming battle just yet.]
“And I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 of the twelve tribes (12x12x10x10x10), who had His name and his Father’s Name written on their foreheads…no one could learn the song they sang but the 144,000” (Rev 14:1). The Dead Sea Scrolls, especially the Book of Enoch, outline what appears to be a parallel world—and might relate directly to this ’Zion”. The heavenly Zion was the place of God’s Throne.
While that is the gathering-up into the clouds, the next great event is the Great Day of the LORD’s return. We know from prophecies that the Beast and the False Prophet gathered the kings, and the warrior-people against the LORD (Rev. 12:13, 13; 19:19-21). The Dead Sea Scrolls say ’the Sons of Light will come and defeat the Sons of Darkness’.
The Dead Sea Scrolls also include the Book of Enoch, which Jude summarized concerning the Second Coming, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, ‘See the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge them and convict all of the ungodly…’” (Jude 14).
He returns with all believers with him, those whose names were written in the Book of Life. Only the evil ones remained on earth: Satan and his fallen angels, the Beast and the False Prophet, and their allies.
That could explain what Jesus said, “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith ON THE EARTH?” (Luke 18:8). Obviously, since Jesus said that DURING his First Coming, he referred to his Second Coming.
Wherever you hear the Trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Neh. 4:20). The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet…” (Zech 9:14). “A great trumpet will sound…They will come worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem” (Isa 27:13).
“No one knows the DAY or HOUR [of Messiah’s coming—The Great Day of the Lord], not even the angels, only the Father” (Matt 24:36). Isaiah specified, however of Messiah, “a child is born, a son is given…[called] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). To understand fully the Father-Son-Holy Spirit of God dynamic is the great mystery; only believed by faith.
“…in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Rev 10:7). “He rode upon a white horse…His Name is Faithful and True, the Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and another NAME on him that no one knows but he himself.” (Rev. 19:11-16).
[The Beast and the Kings of the Earth*] gathered gathered together to make war with the rider on the horse and His army” (Rev 19:19).“The Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. “They have blown the trumpet, they have made all things ready but no one will go into battle, for my wrath is on the whole crowd” (Eze. 7:14)
“[O]ffer your body as living sacrifices in the spiritual act of worship…be not conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing of your minds” (Rom 12:1-2). Sing with King David, “I will open my mouth and declare Your praise…“You [God] do not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:16-17). @achadpeace Peace, שלום، سلام
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